Brevard – A dazzling array of top notch performers are coming to Brevard to play with the Brevard Philharmonic for their upcoming season. It will start in October. With Maestro James Fellenbaum, Artistic Director, the 55-piece orchestra will perform five concerts at the Porter Center at Brevard College, beginning on Sunday, October 8th at 3 PM. An amazing selection of artists are coming to perform this season. Individual tickets for all concerts are $43 for adults, $13 for students, and a number of subscription concert packages are being offered—with 4 tickets, 5 tickets or 6 tickets.
Internationally celebrated violinist Lun Li opens the season with his boundary-pushing interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The well known piece, the Four Seasons, is a powerhouse and much beloved piece by many, The concert opens with the orchestra playing Suppé’s Overture to Poet and Peasant then closes with Liszt’s Symphonic Poem No. 3, “Les Preludes.” Lun Li is a native of Shanghai China, a winner of the 2021 Young Concert Artists Audition, and often plays on the Stradivarius “Samazeuilh” 1735 violin, He recently graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music and is now pursing a Master’s degree at the Juilliard School.
On November 5th, the pianist Tanya Gabrielian promises to deliver a dazzling performance of Beethoven’s Concerto No. 5,the Emperor—-known for its grandeur, bold melodies and heroic spirit. Gabrielian’s skill and powerful presentation will be heard. She has performed in renowned concert halls throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The afternoon’s theme is A Royal Philharmonic, and the orchestra will fill out the afternoon with Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz) by Johann Strauss, Jr.
Concerts later in the year will be Christmastime in Brevard on December 17th and will feature the voices of the Transylvania Choral Society. Under the direction of Dr. David Gresham of Brevard College, TCS is highly regarded and has recently participated in innovative performances that have reached a local and nationwide scale. Holiday classics, such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Christmas Waltz, as well as a sing-along, are planned for the December performance at the Porter Center.
A venue shift from the Porter Center at Brevard College to the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church provides a more intimate setting for the March concert, Splendid Strings. On March 17th, the smaller chamber orchestra will play Concerto in D Minor by Vivaldi/Siloti, Adoration by Florence Price, Mozart’s Divertimento in F Major, Fire Dance by Soon Hee Newbold, and Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten.
The Brevard Philharmonic’s dynamic Pops concerts appeal to most musical tastes and are enjoyed by all ages. The baton comes down at 7:30 pm on April 6th for the Saturday Night Pops with magical movie moments from such films as E.T., Harry Potter, Somewhere in Time, Star Wars, and other classics from the past. The concert will be back in The Porter Center on the college campus.
Then the season wraps up on May 19th with the highly anticipated return of the scintillating cellist Amit Peled. Peled brought down the house when he last played with the Philharmonic. The Strad Magazine, London calls him, “…fiery and intelligent,” and the New York Times praises his “…glowing tone, a seductive timbre, ” Amit will play an all-Dvořák program which includes Carnival Overture, Slavonic Dances, and Cello Concerto—all well known and beloved. One can expect a grand finale for a stellar season.
Individual tickets for all concerts are $43 for adults, $13 for students. Season ticketing is available. Visit brevardphilharmonic.org for further information, to buy tickets, and to purchase season ticket packages at attractive discounts. “All-in” ticket pricing means you will not be charged separately for facility, convenience, or shipping fees.
The Brevard Philharmonic
Five years ago, Maestro James Fellenbaum, the Resident Conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, assumed the position of Artistic Director and Conductor of The Brevard Philharmonic. In 1980 the much loved and highly talented Virginia (Ginny) Tillotson founded the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, the predecessor of Brevard Philharmonic. After 21 years Vance Reece followed her footsteps, and the orchestra became Brevard College’s Orchestra-in-Residence. In 2005, Dr. Head revived it as an independent orchestra, changing its name to the Brevard Philharmonic.
A number of community outreach programs are currently conducted by the Philharmonic. Donated instruments for Music in the Schools provide instruments to middle and high school band and orchestra teachers in Transylvania County Schools. Apparently instrument number 125 was just delivered. The organization also conducts a Music in the Schools program, which sponsors performances in local schools. This program introduces students to the four families of instruments that make up the symphony orchestra. In addition, there is a Brevard Philharmonic Tribute Wall whereby a donation to Brevard Philharmonic of $50 or more will honor a loved one on the Wall for all to see.